Here’s the official press release for our big opening tomorrow! We’re wicked psyched for opening night!I’LL BE DAMNED
A NEW MUSICAL
STARRING MARY TESTA AND KENITA MILLER
BEGINS PERFORMANCES JULY 1 AT THE VINEYARD

Performances begin July 1st for I’LL BE DAMNED, a new musical by Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black, for a limited engagement through July 18th at the Dimson Theatre at The Vineyard, 108 East 15th Street (between Union Square East & Irving Place). I’LL BE DAMNED is directed by April Nickell, with choreography by Luis Salgado and musical direction by Jason Sherbundy.

I’LL BE DAMNED is the story of a friendless, comic-book-loving homeschooler named Louis who receives a seemingly irresistible offer from Satan. Louis’ mother is a little late in coming to terms with her son growing up, God seems lost in his vision of a perfect world, and Louis is discovering himself as he attempts to find just one true friend. This fresh new musical comedy asks the universal question: Is there a way to make people like you without having to sell your soul to the devil?

Mary Testa has appeared on Broadway in 42nd Street (Tony nomination), …Forum, Xanadu, The Rink, Guys and Dolls, On the Town (Tony nomination),Barnum, Marie Christine, Marilyn, and Chicago. Kenita Miller appeared in the original Broadway companies of The Color Purple and Xanadu, and Off-Broadway in Langston in Harlem (2010 Drama Desk nomination) and Dessa Rose.

The book for I’LL BE DAMNED is by Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black, with music by Mr. Broadhurst and lyrics by Mr. Black. They are recent graduates of NYU, where they created the musical at the Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.

Director April Nickell helmed Jaradoa Theater’s acclaimed productions of Serenade by Rachel Sheinkin and Nils Olaf Dolven, The Small of Her Back and Anika Larsen’s Shafrika, The White Girl. Choreographer Luis Salgado is in the cast of Broadway’s In the Heights, where he also serves as assistant to the choreographer. Luis also assisted the choreographers on the films Enchanted and Step Up 2 the Streets, and he choreographed the Off-Broadway productions of Shafrika, The White Girl and Serenade (HOLA Award).

Scenic design for I’LL BE DAMNED is by Sean Tribble, with costume design by Andrea Varga, lighting design by Herrick Goldman, and sound design by Kyle Irwin.

JARADOA (Just A Roomful of Artists Doing Outreach And) THEATER is proudly kicking off its fourth season with I’LL BE DAMNED. Jaradoa is a member-based group of theater artists – actors, directors, writers, and designers – who have come together to promote mercy, beauty and truth through performance and service. Play On!, Jaradoa’s innovative acting and playwriting program that uses theater to improve literacy skills, has been run in public schools, community centers, an alternative-to-incarceration program for teenage felons, and a shelter for runaway and homeless teens.

The playing schedule for the limited engagement of I’LL BE DAMNED will be Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2 & 8pm, and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $18 and are available through www.SmartTix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444. For more information, visit www.JaradoaTheater.org.

We are thrilled to announce that casting is now complete for Jaradoa Theater’s production of the new musical I’ll Be Damned!

We already announced that Jaradoa’s fourth production, starring Mary Testa, Kenita Miller and Kurt Robbins, will play a limited Off-Broadway engagement this July. Newly added to the cast of the tuner about a lonely high school student who makes a pact with the devil are Emily Borromeo, Nick Gelona, Jacob Hoffman, Anthony Martinez, Dana Steingold, Gregory Treco, and Jaradoa Members Daryl Ray Carliles and Stephanie Martinez.

Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black co-authored the musical that will be directed by Jaradoa Managing Artistic Director April Nickell. I’ll Be Damned will run July 1-18 at the Vineyard Theatre. Jaradoa Theater produces.

I’ll Be Damned is the story of a friendless, comic-book-loving homeschooler named Louis who receives a seemingly irresistible offer from Satan. Louis’ mother is a little late in coming to terms with her son growing up, God seems lost in his vision of a perfect world, and Louis is discovering himself as he attempts to find just one true friend. This fresh new musical comedy begs the universal question: ‘Is there a way to make people like you without having to sell your soul to the devil?’

I’ll Be Damned will have choreography by In the Heights cast member Luis Salgado and musical direction by Jason Sherbundy. The design team will include Sean Tribble (scenic design), Andrea Varga (costume design), Herrick Goldman (lighting design) and Mike Farfalla (sound design).

We are so thrilled to announce that our spring/summer production will be the hilarious new musical I’LL BE DAMNED!

I’LL BE DAMNED is the story of a friendless, comic-book-loving homeschooler named Louis who receives a seemingly irresistible offer from Satan. Louis’ mother is a little late in coming to terms with her son growing up, God seems lost in his vision of a perfect world, and Louis is discovering himself as he attempts to find just one true friend.

We are also thrilled to announce that Mary Testa (GUYS AND DOLLS), Kenita R. Miller (THE COLOR PURPLE) and Kurt Robbins (Nat’l Tour of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE) have already been cast in this fresh new musical comedy. Jaradoa Artistic Director April Nickell will direct I’LL BE DAMNED, which is written by Rob Broadhurst and Brent Black.

The show will be performed (as was SHAFRIKA, THE WHITE GIRL) at The Dimson Theatre at The Vineyard, and will run from July 1-18th (schedule varies).

The best part is, tickets are now on sale! Be the first of your friends to grab tickets to what will undoubtedly be the most devilish musical you’ve ever seen! For more information, visit http://www.jaradoatheater.org/illbedamned.html!

Tonight was my last performance of Avenue Q. I love the show — it was the best job I’ve ever had — but I’d done it a year and a half and it was time to move on and make time for other projects. Like Jaradoa stuff!

I didn’t want to make a big deal out of my last show, I just wanted to “go gentle into that good night.” So last week I told our stage manager that I didn’t want a goodbye cake or for everyone to sing “Happy Trails” to me at half hour. But a couple days beforehand, I realized that I did want my last show to somehow be noted by the people in my world. Just then I got an email from my fellow Jaradoan Eileen. I kinda timidly wrote back asking if she’d be willing to wait in line at the box office on my last day to get front row rush tickets, and she said sure!

So tonight Eileen came to the Q and brought along another Jaradoan, Kevin. They sat smack in the front row, which is so close that it almost felt like they were a part of my show. I could always see them peripherally and I was doing the show for them. And they laughed and smiled at everything I did, making me feel so supported and loved.

Tonight was a really sweet night filled with cards, gifts, and well wishes from folks offstage (Sala, who plays Christmas Eve, made me granola! Like from scratch!). And there were lots of special moments onstage: Maggie, our second hander, made Princeton give Kate a kiss on the head before he spooned her, and I got meaningful, loving looks from fellow cast members like Danielle, who plays Gary Coleman, which means a lot in a show where people don’t ever look me in the eye (they’re supposed to be looking at my puppet).

Now, I’m a weeper, it’s easy to get me to cry, but the thing that helped me keep it together was the sound of Eileen and Kevin’s laughter. Because in a business where you are constantly leaving groups of people you’ve had an intense creative experience with and you have grown to love, it’s hard to find people that are a constant, a foundation. And the good folks of Jaradoa are that for me. I feel so lucky tonight. It’s scary to start a new phase of life, but I have the luxury of knowing that my extended Jaradoa family — and not just Members, but also Allies and all the other people who come alongside us — will remain in my life.